Detectable Food Gloves Using Composite Materials
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gloves used in food and pharmaceutical manufacturing can detach and contaminate products, leading to health risks and costly recalls, as existing detectable materials may not reliably identify and prevent such contamination.
Innovation Solution
A glove made from a continuous sheet material with dispersed X-ray and metal detectable particles, such as barium or iodine, which are uniformly added to the material in a liquid form to ensure detection by X-ray or metal detection apparatus, and optionally coated on susceptible areas for enhanced detection, along with antimicrobial agents like iodine or silver, to prevent contamination and facilitate forensic investigation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If gloves are made thin and stretchable to maintain dexterity, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability of contamination prevention deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The glove is constructed as a composite material system combining a thin stretchable base layer (for dexterity) with an embedded detectable material layer (for reliability). This multi-layer composite structure allows the glove to maintain finger manipulation capability while providing detectable contamination prevention through the integrated detectable particles.
2Reliability
If detectable materials are added to gloves, then reliability of contamination detection is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The detectable material is incorporated into the glove during the manufacturing process rather than applied afterward. By embedding the detectable particles in the liquid material before the glove is formed and cured, uniform distribution is achieved during the molding process itself, eliminating subsequent application steps and ensuring consistent detection capability throughout the glove structure.
3Reliability
If multiple detection methods are implemented, then reliability of contamination identification is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The detectable material embedded in the glove serves multiple detection functions simultaneously - it is detectable by both metal detection apparatus and X-ray detection apparatus. This multi-functional detectable material allows a single glove design to work with different detection systems without requiring separate detection mechanisms, thereby improving reliability while avoiding increased device complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution significantly increases the reliability of detecting glove fragments in products, allowing for immediate action to prevent contamination, reduce waste, and simplify investigative processes by ensuring accurate identification and reporting of contamination events.
Implementation Method 1
the said glove includes therein one or more materials so as to render the glove, or a fragment thereof, to be detectable by at least X-ray detection apparatus or metal detectable apparatus
Implementation Method 2
the said glove includes therein one or more materials so as to render the glove, or a fragment thereof, to be detectable by at least X-ray detection apparatus or metal detectable apparatus
Data Source
AI summary
A glove of a type worn to provide masking effect between a wear's hand and another surface, such as surface of food stuff. The glove, or fragments thereof, is rendered detectable by X-ray and/or metal detection apparatus. Apparatus and/or indication means can be provided to allow a detected glove or glove portion to be allocated to a particular location and/or personnel to allow, if necessary, remedial action to be taken.